Desalination method using filter press

Abstract

A method of water desalination in a filter press may comprise: providing a plurality of beads in a chamber between two filter plates in the filter press, the chamber being lined by filter cloths; pumping water into the chamber; heating the water in the chamber; and collecting water vapor generated by the heating. Furthermore, during the heating, the chamber may be vacuum pumped to facilitate removal of water vapor. A filter press system for water desalination may comprise: a frame; a plurality of filter plates configured to form a stack of parallel plates, each of the plurality of filter plates being movably attached to the frame, the plurality of filter plates further being configured to form a multiplicity of chambers, each of the multiplicity of chambers being formed by adjacent filter plates of the plurality of filter plates, each of the multiplicity of chambers being lined by filter cloths, wherein the plurality of filter plates, the multiplicity of chambers and the filter cloths are configured to allow water vapor to escape from the chambers while retaining salts from the water to form a filter cake; a heater, for heating the water in the multiplicity of chambers; a condenser for condensing the water vapor; and a separator for separating the beads from the filter cake after the filter cake is released from the chambers. The beads may be reused in the chambers of the filter press.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a method of water desalination and more specifically to a method of water desalination using a filter-press.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Water desalination refers to processes that remove salts and other minerals from water. The processes are most often used for desalination of sea water and brackish water. Modernly, the most common desalination processes are reverse osmosis and vacuum distillation. However, these processes often require preprocessing of water to remove contaminants prior to desalination.[0003]Desalination processes may be used for the production of pure water, and / or for extraction of salts from salt bearing water. For example, desalination processes may be used to provide potable water and / or dry sea salt from sea water.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0004]This invention is a system and method for desalination of water, such as sea water and brine, using a filter press. Chambers in the filter press are loaded with ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Radio frequency heating provides a potentially very efficient method of directly heating the sea water / brine within the filter press. This may be achieved by choosing a radio frequency for which the sea water / brine has strong absorption of the radio frequency energy and fabricating the filter press out of materials with weak radio frequency absorption at the chosen frequency. Direct heating of the sea water / brine also has the advantage of removing the need for indirect heating. For example, for desalination, there are frequencies for which sea water / brine is strongly absorbing and for which plastics materials / polymers, out of which filter plates may be made, are weakly absorbing.

Problems solved by technology

However, these processes often require preprocessing of water to remove contaminants prior to desalination.

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